On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in NYC, the birth of the modern gay rights movement, Deutsche Bank reflects on its history of grant making and advocacy in support of LGBTQI equality. Deutsche Bank is proud to join colleagues, clients and communities in celebrating this milestone in LGBTQI history. Our longstanding commitment to LGBTQI issues stems from our broader commitment as a firm to diversity and inclusion, one of our core values. This timeline presents highlights from our history of grants and advocacy initiatives across the bank—led by Diversity & Inclusion, dbPride, Corporate Social Responsibility Americas, and several employees who serve as nonprofit board members for LGBTQI organizations.

Grants Advocacy

Rainbow Group Americas (RGA) is officially launched as an LGBTQI Employee Resource Group 2001 Prior to RGA, LGBTQI employees convened under legacy Bankers Trust since 1997.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recognizes Deutsche Bank, after scoring a perfect 100 on HRC’s 2003 annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI), as one of the world’s Best Places to Work for LGBTQI Equality Today, Deutsche Bank has received a perfect CEI score for 16 consecutive years.

The Foundation makes its first grant to the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in support of AIDS Walk NYC 2005 As of 2019, Deutsche Bank and its employees have participated in 10 NYC AIDS Walks.

2007 Rainbow Group Americas is the first Employee Resource Group to ring the NYSE closing bell CSR Americas announces philanthropic response to LGBTQI hate crimes The Foundation immediately responds to a spike in violence against LGBTQI individuals with a series of grants, including to 2010 the Anti-Violence Project (AVP) to support community awareness, organizing, and rapid response to incidents of violence, and to the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to provide outreach and training for school staff to promote safer schools for LGBTQI youth.

Deutsche Bank hosts the first-ever LGBTQI leadership summit “Out on the Street” for the Wall Street banking community 2011 Challenging the banking industry’s conservative history, senior leaders discuss how to attract and retain top talent from the LGBTQI community.

Deutsche Bank officially launches Ally program to advance LGBTQI inclusion 2012 Rainbow Group Americas rebrands as dbPride Americas

CSR launches Born to Be Our global education strategy breaks down barriers to opportunity and supports inclusive and innovative educational environments for all.

Americas employees elect Anti-Violence Project, as nominated by a NYC colleague, as the regional 2013 winner of the Deutsche Bank Global Volunteer Award For the first time, Deutsche Bank signs onto an amicus curiae brief—or “friend of the court”—to the United States Supreme Court in support of LGBTQI equality Deutsche Bank signs United States v. Windsor, which opposes the exclusion of same-sex couples from federal legal protections under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

dbPride expands to Deutsche Bank’s Jacksonville and Cary offices

CSR launches Born to Be in the Americas with the Anti-Violence Project 2014 The Foundation supports AVP’s education and outreach services in underserved NYC neighborhoods with high rates of reported violence against LGBTQI youth. The partnership also features an ad campaign—the first of its kind by a financial services company—that tells the inspiring stories of 5 LGBTQI youth to help make the city a safer, more affirming place. The ads appear in bus shelters and phone kiosks in all five boroughs where they are viewed an estimated 18 million times.

West End Residences receives a CSR Americas grant for its True Colors supportive project Working towards permanent housing opportunities for homeless LGBTQI youth, a pre-development model is created for this 31-unit residential building with on-site supportive services in the Bronx.

Deutsche Bank signs amicus brief Obergefell v. Hodges, supporting the landmark civil rights case 2015 to legalize same-sex marriage Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation supports the Center (AFC) AFC provides comprehensive services and housing for homeless LGBTQI youth in NYC. The grant allows the Emergency Shelter Program to serve 200 new clients and offer educational and career readiness programs.

Deutsche Bank is honored at the 20th Annual Courage Awards for its partnership with AVP

dbPride Americas organizes the first-ever Transgender Economic Empowerment Forum The event is headlined by Chirlane McCray, the First Lady of NYC, and actress Laverne Cox.

Deutsche Bank freezes plans to create 250 new jobs in Cary, North Carolina 2016 The announcement takes a firm stance against the state’s new discriminatory transgender bathroom law.

Deutsche Bank joins Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Orlando, Florida, to promote LGBTQI best practices in the workplace

Deutsche Bank is an early adopter of the United Nations Standards of Conduct for Business to address LGBTQI discrimination

Deutsche Bank signs onto two amicus curiae briefs to the United States Supreme Court 2017 Evans v. Georgia Regional Hospital urges protection for employees based on their sexual orientation. Similarly, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission supports the fair treatment of all when doing business with public enterprises.

Deutsche Bank joins the NYC Pride March for the first time alongside clients, employees, and their families

CSR Americas partners with Leslie-Lohman Museum, the world’s only cultural institution dedicated to LGBTQI art The Foundation, as a founding partner, provides a grant which helps develop educational programming for low-income LGBTQI students, allies, and their teachers that will foster community and dialogue.

Deutsche Bank signs Business Statement for Transgender Equality A coalition of 56 leading companies, including Deutsche Bank, issues a powerful statement in support of transgender equality after attempts to remove US federal protections.

Jon Tilli, Chair of dbPride Americas, is honored by the Leslie-Lohman Museum for his LGBTQI advocacy His work includes organizing the first-ever Transgender Economic Empowerment Forum with panel discussions on the transgender military ban, LGBTQI veterans, and issues facing LGBTQI people of color. 2018 The Foundation expands its philanthropic support in Jacksonville, where 60% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQI The Foundation provides inaugural funding for the Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASMYN)’s new Safety Net Resource Center, which supports homeless youth and helps them access stable housing. The bank also supports JASMYN’s community events, including Strides for Pride and the Coming Out Day Breakfast, and several employees provide ongoing pro bono and nonprofit board service.

The Financial Times OUTstanding Lists recognize three Deutsche Bank employees as Role Models for their advocacy on LGBTQI workplace inclusion

Deutsche Bank joins Open for Business, a coalition of leading businesses committed to LGBTQI inclusion

Deutsche Bank hosts its Powering Progress competition for US college students Students compete to design a project in support of LGBTQI communities.

Stonewall 50 To mark the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, the Foundation continues its support for . The grant will support several NYC Pride and WorldPride events, which celebrate the diverse LGBTQI community and promote legislation for equal rights.

Partnership for Global LGBTQI Equality is launched at the World Economic Forum (WEF), where Deutsche Bank is a founding member

Deutsche Bank is the first corporation to respond to brutal new laws in the Sultanate of Brunei The Dorchester Collection hotel group, a state-owned business, is removed from Deutsche Bank’s list of suppliers. In response to similar action from several organizations, Brunei extends its moratorium on the death penalty for same-sex acts.

Karl Von Rohr, President and Member of the Management Board, engages in groundbreaking discussions at the Vatican Parliamentarians, judges, human rights advocates, and business leaders unite against the criminalization of same-sex acts in 70 countries.

In honor of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB), 2019 soccer legend Abby Wambach joins 300+ colleagues and community partners in Jacksonville to discuss LGBTQI equality

Deutsche Bank sponsors Open for Business’s research report, Channels of Influence, which highlights how companies can utilize their resources to advocate for equality

In opposition of discriminatory bathroom policies for transgender students, Deutsche Bank signs amicus brief Adams v. The School Board of St. Johns County, Florida

Deutsche Bank hosts the panel “Art after Stonewall: Lessons from the Liberation Movement” at Frieze Art Fair Three artists discuss how this pivotal moment for the gay rights movement impacted the art world.

In partnership with Deutsche Bank, Leslie-Lohman Museum will commission a mobile art installation at the NYC Pride March QUEER ICONS, a series of portraits by Gabriel Garcia Roman, will highlight queer and transgender persons of color who are underrepresented within the LGBTQI rights movement.